The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-03
CHILPS RICH WIDOW,
She Will Soon Paralyze the Nabobs of
New York.

New YORK.
A New York letter says that with the
exception of politics, weddings and occa-
sional fashionable funerals, there is nothing
of exciting interest in town. We are moth
ing nowadays if not rich So you perhaps
can imagine the intensity of emotion with
which the nobs and snobs of Gotham have
heard that the richest of all rich women is
soon to be among us. She is Sonora ISadora
Consino, otherwise known as the Countess
of Monte Cristo" of Santiago, Chill, COM
pared with whose wealth the colossal for
tunes of Mrs. Hetty Green and certain other
American ladies sink into insignificance.
Donna Consino is already making her ar
engagements for her visit here, which will be
of considerable duration. She will open an
establishment that in point of magnifcence
will surpaSS anything of its kind ever seen
in this city, and, If reports be true, will set
the society world in whrl of excitement
when she gets settled. The house that Sc
nora will occupy will be situated in a fash
ionable part of this city But it has not yet
been selected. Near Santiago she has the
finest private park i'll the world with flower
gardens upon which fortunes have been
spent. These gardens will be stripped if
need be to supply the conservatory which
will be attached to Donna Consino's New
York mansion. The collection of orchids,
ferns and other rare plants and flowers that
will be here exhibited is intended to be the
finest that can be gathered. Donna Consino
will be accompanied by her two daughters,
Senorita Isadore and Senorita Pacifica, both
young ladies of more than ordinary attrac-
tions, aside from the wealth they will in
herit. The story of the extent of this
Gillian lady'S wealth reads like page from
fairy tale. 1t is doubtful if she herself
really knows the extent of her possessions
Even before the death of the old don, her
husband, she was in her own right the
wealthiest woman in South America. He
managed his own estate and she hers, and it
is said that the woman was the better man
ager of the two. Upon the death of her
husband all his vast possessions in the way
OF mines, railroads, manufactures and lands
passed into her hands, and she has since di-
rected the affairs of this estate personally,
with more shrewdness and success than
most men could display under q similar bur-
den.
Donna Consino has more wealth than any
person or corporation in Chill, except alone
the Catholic church. Exactly what her in
come is can't be told. 1t is known to reach
several millions per annum. 1t is derived
from mines, railroads, manufactures her
plantations and from commerce. She owns
a feet of ships varying from 1000 to $500
tons burdens, which trade between various
South American ports. From her coal mines
alone she realizes SS0, 900 per month.
The town of Lota she owns outright and
all of its 1000 inhabitants are her depend
entS. Coronal, town of about the same
size, is almost entirely owned by her, and
in these two towns alone she pays out
Sl20. 900 in wages each month. At Lota
are her copper mines, and hero, too, she has
mansion that has cost over 81 10000
The architect and the skilled mechanics
were imported from Paris, as was the build
ing material, which Donna Consino con-
veyed to Chill in her own ships.
Over $1,000 900 more was spent in i'm
proving the natural beauty of the grounds
surrounding the mansion. There are $50
acres in the private park spoken of alone.
There are artificial lakes, grottoes and flower
gardens, in which half hundred skilled
gardeners, most of them from Scotland, are
employed.
Donna Consino has plantation near San
tiago, which is said to be the finest in South
America. Here are her grain, orchards,
vine gardens, herds of cattle and focks of
sheep. The vineyards supply the market of
Chill with sherry and claret There is a
wine cellar here 500x100 feet in size, which
is always filed. There are 400 men en-
ployed at all seasons on the plantation and
l 900 poems are at Sonora Consino's COM
mand at any time.
In the city of Santiago Donna Consino
has two residences One is built in the
American the other in Spanish American
style; the latter was decorated and fitted up
in Partisan style at an enormous cost But
Donna Consino spends very little time in
either of these houses. Thirty miles outside
CT Santiago there is another large estate
also owned by the donna. Like most South
American men and women the donna is in
tensely fond of sports and especially of
horse racing. She has a splendid stud at
Santiago and she backs her horses right
royalty Should she conclude to become
"punger" on our race courses here she
might cause some of our big betters to
open their eyes. She is more likely, how
ever, to devote her attention to the pleasures
of society, and if she entertains half as
many here as at home, or during her recent
sojourn in Paris, society circles will have
enough to talk about.
When in Chill Donna Consino frequently
fits up and decorates one of her vessels, in
vites a large party of young men and
women and all 60 upon a voyage of pleas
ure, lasting sometimes for weeks. On these
trips the guests are entertained in a princely
regardless of expense. The recep-
tions and balls she gives from time TO time
are upon the same magnificent scale. She
Is particularly fond of the society of young
people and is always surrounded by them.
She is quick to form likes and dislikes, and
is the possessor of very decided opinions
The sonora is still on the sunny side of 30
and is a well-preserved woman Of considera-
bic charms.
She comes of a Spanish family and her
forefathers were among those enterprising
adventures who came over with the con-
1uerors of Peru and Chill Sonora Consino
has son Of "a, and her daughters are aged
20 and 10 respectively. The son assists his
mother in the management of her estates |
and the daughters are just finishing their
education. Donna Consino has magnificent
made for her by Worth, but she
is somewhat careless in dress and cares but
little tor her fine feathers.
The advent of the lady here will be await
I'd with interest That society will open its
arms to her seems certain, since she is
wealthy. With her wealth and her gener
osity she will undoubtedly soon become a
figure in our social world